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Irish firms lose out in domain registrations

IT was supposed to offer companies a chance to embrace their European identity but instead the process of obtaining an .eu domain for websites has left many Irish firms complaining of European bureaucracy.

Irish companies have one of the highest rejection rates among those applying for the name, which became available last April. The average European rejection rate is about 30%, but 79% of Irish companies, or 479 out of 610, have had their applications turned down.

Companies were entitled to apply for a domain name during a protected “sunrise” period if they could show a prior right to it. According to Patrik Linden, communications manager of the Eurid, the agency in charge of managing the .eu domain, Irish law is to blame for the high failure rate.

“Rejections show we’re doing a good job on checking applications,” said Linden. “While it is unfortunate for Ireland and the UK, their rejections are